The Christ Apostolic Church has issued a strong-worded public statement criticising Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly over remarks about its first General Evangelist, the late Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola.
The statement, signed by the church’s Director of Publicity, Pastor Ade Alawode, and posted on CAC’s official Facebook page, addressed Fatoyinbo’s claim in a viral sermon that Babalola was “anointed… but had no money” and his rhetorical question, “Where are his children?”
According to Pastor Alawode, the comments were “insensitive and ill-informed” and promoted a “misleading narrative” that equates ministerial success with material wealth — a position he described as “biblically flawed.”
Quoting Luke 12:15, he said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
He further accused Fatoyinbo of encouraging “prosperity theology that demeans those who are not wealthy,” warning that such teachings could “fuel greed, corruption, and moral decay” in society.
On the issue of Babalola’s family, Alawode clarified that the late evangelist had children, now elderly, who are “blessed, fulfilled, and quietly serving the Lord.” He stressed that they have chosen a life of humility rather than public ostentation.
Setting the record straight, the CAC spokesperson highlighted Babalola’s achievements, including his divine calling in 1928 at the age of 24, his ministry’s spread across Nigeria and Ghana, and his recognised status, which earned him a place among honoured guests during Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Nigeria in 1956.
“He lived in a befitting home, drove one of the best Ford Jeeps of his time, funded education and weddings, and cared for the poor — all without exploiting the pulpit,” Alawode stated.
He also emphasised that Babalola’s influence continues to inspire over six decades after his death, citing Acts 3:6 as an example that anointing is not dependent on material possession.
Concluding, Alawode reiterated: “The measure of a believer’s anointing is not in material accumulation, but in sacrificial service… For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
